Quantum Electronics Volume 1: Basic Theory

The Birth of a new independent field of physics, now known by the name of quantum electronics, was heralded about ten years ago by the creation of the molecular oscillator. This field at once attracted the attention of a large number of research workers, and rapid progress took place. Extensive experimental and theoretical material has now been accumulated. The present book attempts to give a resume of this material and, to a certain extent, to generalize it. We tried to arrange the material so that, as far as is possible, the reader need not continually refer elsewhere. The references to literature of a theoretical nature make no pretense of completeness, but when citing experimental work we have to give as full a list as possible since readers may be interested in details for which there is no space in the book. The book as a whole is designed for the reader with a knowledge of theoretical physics (quantum mechanics in particular) at university level. It should be pointed out that the material in the various sections of the book is of differing degrees of complexity. Readers will need less preparation for Volume 2.